Archive for September, 2012

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year of Faith” which will begin on October 11, 2012. “It will be a moment of grace and commitment to a more complete conversion to God, to strengthen our faith in Him and proclaim Him with joy to the people of our time,” said the Pope. A major focus of the “Year of Faith” will be the primary role of the family in the transmission of the faith in society. So what role can the family play in this upcoming year? (Read More)

ROME, SEPT. 4, 2012 (Zenit.org).- What role can the family play in the context of the New Evangelization and the Year of Faith?

That is a question that ZENIT asked Jowita Kostrzewska, a correspondent at the Polish Catholic weekly “Niedziela.”

ZENIT: There is talk of a crisis in the family in the contemporary world. At the same time, some believe that the family is important in terms of giving witness during the Year of Faith, which will begin in October. What is your point of view in this regard?

Kostrzewska: Yes, it’s true. Today it’s easy to see the growing crisis of the family. Serious problems arise in many families, such as the lack of work or difficulty in earning what is necessary for a decent life. And when there is no help from outside, loneliness ensues, a lack of hope, and tragedies and dramas arise. Moreover, with the tempo of modern life, persons and family members are so pressured at work that they often don’t have time for their homes and children. Utilitarianism, increasingly obsessive dependency on extreme rhythms of work, the reduction of time dedicated to affective life, leads to the disintegration of the family.

The problem is especially true for persons who live marriage superficially. A growing number of divorces occur when persons don’t struggle for unity and reinforcement of the sacred dimension of their families. Such situations often take place when God and faith don’t have their rightful place. I think that the Year of Faith will be a good occasion and an extraordinary event to reinforce families.

ZENIT: What fruits can we expect from the Year of Faith?

Kostrzewska: In the first place, I expect that the Year of Faith will bring more families closer to the Gospel of Christ. The innumerable crises in families happen not only when security is lacking in relations between parents and children, but especially when evangelical values are lacking, such as love, hope, faith, trust, fidelity and truth. When the Gospel of Christ is lacking in families, young people often take refuge in places where disorder and relativism reign, thus they become victims of excesses, among which are drugs and alcohol. Moreover, they give a bad example. Thus persons who do not have an appropriate family model in the future will have difficulty in creating a real and solid relationship in their own families. This is a reason why it is so important to build family relations based on true values, in particular those indicated by the Gospel. The Year of Faith is an ideal time to pause and think what will be and what should be the role of families in today’s world.

ZENIT: Secularization has influenced many families. The transmission of the faith, from parents to children, is no longer a solid practice. Some believing parents are even convinced that it’s not necessary to transmit the faith to their children. Some think that the children on their own, in complete liberty, should decide which religion to follow. What do you think?

Kostrzewska: I think the Year of Faith will be very important to rediscover and deepen the quality and quantity of relations in the family. There will be many occasions to reflect on what the faith really is and how it can be transmitted.

I think, practically, that during the Year of Faith the family must find the time to be together to read the Bible and to pray, but also to talk, to laugh, to share joys and sorrows, that is, to reinforce the bonds of affection among all the members of the family. If our faith is strong, it will enable us to overcome even the greatest difficulties. For the family of believers the Year of Faith is the occasion to evangelize and to help families hit by the crisis, those who are in greatest need of our help. It is necessary to give families spiritual and material support. In this way, we will discover many spiritual treasures.

In conclusion, I intend to make reference to the documents of Vatican Council II, and to the thought of Blessed John Paul II; both stress that “the family is sacred.”

Parents, did you know that Planned Parenthood wants to talk to your kids about sex?! How are they reaching these young and impressionable minds? Through text messages! Every kid has a cell phone, right? With that in mind, Planned Parenthood launched a new “text and chat” programs that offers information about sex. And trust us, this is probably not something you want your child exposed to.

A sleek video ad with cartoon-type characters and upbeat music was launched in September and is aimed at young viewers. In the video, a young girl, sitting with a male – presumably her boyfriend – texts a question to a “health educator.” “The condom broke and I don’t want to be pregnant.” The “health educator” responds, informing the “couple” that “the morning after pill can be ten up to 5 days (120 hours) after sex. It’s a safe & effective…” The ad goes on to tell young people that the information is “fast; it’s trustworth; it’s 100% confidential,” meaning you – the PARENT – will never find out that your child is having sex or that they have been advised to take an abortifacient.

I recently had unprotected sex with my partner. But our unprotected sex wasn’t more than 5 minutes.

How old do I have to be to buy Plan B?

What are my chances of getting pregnant at 15 if I have had sex once?

My ex and I had sex and we did not use a condom but I don’t think I was ovulating that day.

And many more….

Would you be prepared to answer questions like this from your child? What would you say? Do you know what the Catholic Church’s teachings are when it comes to God’s gift of sexuality? Family Honor offers several age-appropriate programs for parents and their children. We teach teens and their parents about whole-person sexuality through the SPICE concept.

Click here to see a short Family Honor presentation about SPICE and chastity.

For more information about how Family Honor supports parents and families, visit our website.

For over twenty years, Family Honor has been helping parents, their teens, and pre-teens talk about whole-person chastity through the SPICE concept. What exactly is the SPICE Concept and how can it help you teach your kids about sexuality?

We are all created in the image and likeness of God. Because we are either male or female, we are all sexual beings. But what exactly does that mean?

God created each of us as special individuals. There is no other person on earth like us! Each one of us is unique in so many ways and we present ourselves and our uniqueness to the world through our bodies. However, our sexuality is more than just body parts and functions; our sexuality is about who we are as those unique individuals that God created.

Just as spices add flavor to food, a person’s SPICE adds flavor to our lives. Check out what we mean.

There is probably no more challenging task for parents than guiding their son or daughter to a positive and right understanding of sexuality in a sex-saturated world. Take this short quiz to see how well you’re doing!

Family Honor can help you begin talking to your teen about this amazing gift from God – the gift of sexuality. Through a variety of parish-based, family-centered programs, Family Honor presenters bring parents and their children together to discuss the true meaning of love, chastity, fertility, friendship, true self-worth, sexuality and much more in an age-appropriate manner. We have several programs confirmed this year and are constantly adding programs to our schedule so check back often. Our programs will give you the confidence you need to begin these very important conversations.

September marks the official launch of a brand-new program from Family Honor. Leading & Loving is a parent-only program and is designed for parents of young children, ages birth through 5th grade. Leading & Loving will assist parents in cultivating virtues and values in their young children through the activities and conversations of everyday family life. (Read more)

The Leading & Loving program consists of six one-hour sessions that include a short DVD component along with parent activities and discussion.

The sessions include:
1. Sex – What does it really mean? How do I affirm this truth in my child?
2. The Language of Love – How do I speak it? How do I teach my child to be a loving person?
3. The Birds & Bees – Teaching more than just the facts: How do I answer my child’s questions with a sense of awe and wonder for God’s gift of sexuality?
4. Formation in Virtue – Raising good kids: How do I help my child grow in virtue?
5. Broken Heart – Dealing with Tough Issues: How do I respond to my child age-appropriately with truth and mercy?
6. Growing a Joyful, Faith-filled Family: How do I cultivate a joyful family life?

Family Honor’s Leading & Loving program will work with parents to create an individual plan for purposeful parenting. By providing hope, practical tools, and key basic concepts, this program strives to empower parents to become knowledgeable, confident, and competent leaders of their families.

For more information about bringing a Leading & Loving program to your parish or diocese, please call us at 803-929-0858.